The airport shuttle van arrived at our hotel at 12.40pm, instead of 1pm, to pick us up for our departure to the airport. We got on the van, and took a relatively fast 15 minute journey through much of the city and suburbs to the airport, and as such, arriving very very early for check in exactly at 1pm. So, we took the time to walk around the recently refurbished terminal, and I must say, it looks very nice indeed.

At around 1.25pm, to my horror, I found a long queue for SQ check-in at Row E even though the check-in process wasn't due to open till 2pm. Eventually, 10 minutes later, the check-in counters had to open to contend with the long queue, with a maximum of only 3 or 4 counter staff for a full flight. Amazing efficiency, isn't it? That obviously resulted in very long waits for us waiting for check in.

As this was a full flight, I half expected not to get upgraded, but at check-in, the counter staff said he could do nothing and asked my mom to approach another staff. The other staff said that there was 1 F seat left open and he would process the upgrade at the gate. Finally, with all ckeck-in formalities over and done with, we went to the food court to grab a bite.

The food court is simply marvellous, it is so big and has a BEAUTIFUL viewing gallery from which the QF gates could be seen. 9M-MPN was parked at Gate 51 just next to the food court, an amazing sight. Had a slow lunch as it was still much too early, and proceeded into the airside area at 3.30pm, bidding goodbye to the city I have enjoyed so much. So long, Sydney.

Lengthy wait at the gate area, nothing much to do really so just sat around. Gate agent came by, checked the aircraft and finally at 4.40pm, announced for boarding. I approached her to enquire about the upgrade and she replied "if the ticket goes in normally nothing's happened". As such, the ticket indeed went through, but I suspect the F seat was still left empty and there could be some empty J seats as well. What a waste.

Settling into my seat, I was suprised to discover I actually had the December entertainment on the previous flight, didn't expect it at all. Just then, the brand-new Air NZ A320(ZK-OJA) with Lord of the Rings livery taxied it, but as I was in an aisle seat it was VERY tough for me to catch a good glimpse of it. Grr. Although, I might add, it looked spectacular. Hot towels were distributed with a "would you like a HORT TARWOLD, sir?"

Pushback was late for some reason, and we began a relatively short taxi to Runway 16R of Sydney Airport, as we taxied, flaps were set to 20 degrees for takeoff. We lined up and accelerated for a 1 minute long roll with such a heavy load. We climbed steadily and as the seat belt signs were turned off in a matter of minutes later, I turned on the KrisWorld system and went to the Music-on-Demand page to get my pop fix yet again. The F/A distributing the "hort tarworlds" came by and I passed her another copy of a flight info data sheet for the captain to fill up.

Getting tired of the music, I proceeded to watch "Ice Age", and once the movie ended, went to the Flight Map channel to check our current status. Time for a toilet break, and I went to the lav in the middle of the aircraft (as usual no sanitary napkin test, want the results, approach Singapore_Air).Back in my seat, I then went to watch "Freaky Friday", yet again. Don't know why but I seem to enjoy the movie quite a lot. Maybe because of Lindsay Lohan Halfway through the movie, the F/O came on and briefly spoke to us about the flight, he seemed a little nervous as he was stuttering throughout the announcment.

As the movie was about to land, meal service came, and today's meal was

Being none the wiser, I chose the beef as I'm honestly quite sick of eating chicken. Obviously a wrong choice as I was to see later on. Meal service came by, and I ate as I watched the movie, occasionally bumping into the remote control as the seat was just too narrow. The beef tasted putrid, it was quite tough, but the vegetables were quite good, and the potatoes were great as well. However, the serving size of drink was simply too small. The F/A poured a can of Coke into a small cup that could easily take a whole small chunk of cheese. Cost-cutting at work, perhaps?

Meal done with, I was a little shocked at the time they took to clear the plates and cutleries. I finished my movie and was almost midway through "Spy Kids 3D" when they finally removed the cutlery. Just then, duty-free service came along, something I have not seen for a long time since I'm always up front, and was tempted to buy the limited edition part 2 1:500 scale model series, comprising of the A300B4-200, the B747-412 9V-SMU "1000th 747" and others, but it cost $99.

Through the movie, I suddenly had a bad headache. On looking at my watch, it was 10pm in Australia and time for bed, however, I just cannot sleep on board flights, and as such, had to struggle to stay awake with the throbbing headache. "Spy Kids 3D" done with, it was time for another meal service, this time

Having a terrible headache, I chose not to eat. The snack bar consisted of ice cream and a pack of Tim-Tams. Speaking about the latter, I just LOVE them, they taste SO DELICIOUS. In my bid to keep awake, I just asked for a cup of pineapple juice and watched the next movie, "Johnny English" yet again. Also, the flight info data sheet was returned to me, completely filled except for the arrival gate. Throughout the show I had a very bad headache, and once it ended, I just had to sleep, and so I did.

Awoke just as we were descending into Changi, and I immediately retracted the PTV screen in preparation for landing. We were descending into cloud on a TAN4A arrival, and soon, we were about to approach Changi, from my seat I could hardly see the skyline of Singapore but could barely make out some lights. Landing gear was retracted and flaps were set, as evidenced from the sudden shrill whine of the PW4056 powerplants.

Landed on Changi Airport's Runway 02L at 9.45pm, and made a long taxi to Gate E28 again via North Cross, and parked next to a Scandinavian A340-300 yet again, just like the other day. Disembarked after the F/J pax, and into the airside area. Apparently 9V-SPH would continue onto ZRH / LSZH on SQ 346 after this Sydney soujourn. The baby stroller came out from the cargo hold, and we proceeded to immigration, and along the way I had a nosebleed, probably thanks to the headache.

Cleared immigration pretty quickly and collected our bags soon, although there was a long queue with the AF flight from CGK / WIII also disgorged its load of passengers at the same time. We were out into the landside and on a taxi by 10.20pm, and on our way back home. So long Sydney!

RATINGS / COMMENTS

Flight : 3/5
Flight was quite good and very smooth, the crew was mediocre with one going "would you like a HORT tarWORLD", in the words of Ryanair!!!

Food : 3.5/5
The food was much better, though the beef tasted horrible.

Seat : 2/5
After flying in First Class, I was obviously a little pampered by all the extra space, and in such a narrow seat I kept bumping into the KrisWorld remote control, and ended up fast-forwarding or rewinding my movie. Grr.

Airport Facilities : 5/5
I was simply amazed at Sydney Airport's transformation, having heard "horror stories" from previous visitors. As for Changi Airport, it was as wonderful as usual.

Well, that closes the chapter on my Sydney trip. Hope you enjoy reading the trip report as much as I enjoyed typing them. Thank you for taking the trouble to read this report.

Excellent trip report!! Too bad you didn't get an upgrade... like I always say, you can add the best entertainment system, best food and best FA in the business to an Economy section, but cramped/narrow seats will always be cramped/narrow seats.

Hot towels were distributed with a "would you like a HORT TARWOLD, sir?"

Some things never change....

Flight was quite good and very smooth, the crew was mediocre with one going "would you like a HORT tarWORLD", in the words of Ryanair!!!

I am glad u remember me... But I am inclined to point out it wasn't ME who started this HORT TARWORLD soiree! It was SQ772 during his SIN-AMS flight with FSS Yeo Siew Ling! So i am innocent!

Anyway, great report. I have flown this route with SQ a number of times (shudder... gasp!) and most of the flights have been, as u said it, mediocre - leading up to THAT encounter with the Bitch of Raffles, of course.

You know what they say about catering on SQ, it is always wiser to go for the Asian option! Tsk tsk.... never learn.

9V-SVA, thank you for that report. I will be flying SQ from SIN to SYD on the 26th Dec and return om Jan 10th. I am very much looking forward as this is my first SQ experience, previously I have always flown the OZ route with mostly QF. I'll remember to choose the asian dish !

I really wished some SQ crew will come up to me and say "HORT TARWORLD FOR YOU SIR?" Just went on SQ223 some 12-ish days back, the crew was excellent and kept everybody sufficiently happy for the 4h 40min flight although the B777-200 we were on (9V-SRG) was absolute crap. The FlightPath channel was showing two alternating screens of info only with NO map. Add to that a fuzzy screen, which caused me to not be able to read ANYTHING off the FlightPath screen except the "Estimated Arrival Time" line. This problem affected EVERYBODY on the plane although those seated slightly forward of row 49 did get clearer images.

I get the impression that the plane was in the midst of an cabin retrofit as some of the plastic pieces holding the oxygen masks in their places were not properly secured (drooping). Food was excellent though, both in quantity and quality! Surprising hahaha...anyway I'll have a trip report with pictures (and sounds) for you guys soon!

Great trip report by the way, Daryl! I shall look out for "hort tarworlds" when I go back to Singapore this Sunday.

Ryanair!!! - What was the experience with the bitch of Raffles? Is there a trip report I could read? Sounds interesting!

Hehehehe... U must have joined a.net waaay after most of us regulars. No trip report for that trip coz that happened quite sometime back in Jun 98. Upgraded to Raffles only to receive shitty service. Was ignored for the first half of the flight but the Caucasian next to me was smiled at and acknowledged. So i kicked up a fuss and they got the girl replaced.

Ryanair!!! hehehe sounds like fun! Did you complain about it while you were still on board or afterwards? I'm assuming she was aware that you were upgraded now

One of my complaints to the IFS was that I knew I was an upgrade but I had no right to be treated like that, and that if i didn't ask to be upgraded. If I knew the treatment was such, I would have stayed at the back... Where at least I would expect such service! Actually I was closed to tears because I was embarrassed / angry, she made me feel really unwanted in Raffles. Like i didn't belong there. Very unprofessional...